Lahore (Web Desk): Afghanistan stunned England with an exhilarating eight-run victory at Lahore’s Lahore, knocking the defending champions out of the Champions Trophy 2025.
England, chasing a challenging 326 for victory, came agonizingly close but fell short, posting 317 all out.
Despite Joe Root’s valiant 120, it wasn’t enough as Afghanistan held their nerve, staying alive in the tournament while England’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals were dashed.
The star of the show was Afghanistan's opener Ibrahim Zadran, who blazed a trail to a stunning 177, the highest individual score in Champions Trophy history.
Zadran’s knock was a masterclass in timing and power, rescuing Afghanistan from a rocky 37-3 start. His partnership with captain Hashmatullah Shahidi, who made 40, steadied the ship with a crucial 103-run stand.
Then, Zadran went on to form another key partnership of 111 runs with Mohammad Nabi, who smashed a quick-fire 40 from just 24 balls.
Zadran’s remarkable 146-ball innings included 12 boundaries and six towering sixes, breaking his own record for Afghanistan’s highest individual ODI score and setting a new benchmark in the tournament.
England’s bowlers, led by the pace of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, had early success, with Archer taking three quick wickets, including two in one over.
However, Wood’s departure due to injury after just four overs limited England’s bowling options.
Zadran capitalized on this, counterattacking fiercely, forcing Jos Buttler to rotate his bowlers in an attempt to stop the flow of runs. Leg-spinner Adil Rashid did eventually break the partnership, dismissing Shahidi with a clever delivery, but by then, Afghanistan had built a commanding total.
England’s chase faltered under pressure. Root’s 120 was a heroic effort, but the rest of the batting lineup couldn’t support him adequately.
As Afghanistan’s bowlers tightened the screws, England fell behind in the race, unable to break the required run rate.
In the final overs, wickets tumbled quickly, and Afghanistan’s bowlers held their composure to seal the win. The match was another setback for England, who are now out of semi-final contention after two straight losses.
Teams
England: Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith (wk), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Mark Wood
Afghanistan: Rahmatullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Rahmat Shah, Hashmatullah Shahidi (c), Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Rashid Khan, Noor Ahmad, Fazalhaq Farooqi